Nepal’s New Prime Minister Lifts TikTok Ban, Signals Closer Ties with China

New Prime Minister of Nepal Reinstates TikTok Following Ban

The newly appointed Prime Minister of Nepal, K.P. Sharma Oli, made headlines on Thursday by lifting the ban on TikTok that had been imposed by his predecessor in November. This move indicates a potential shift in Nepal’s geopolitical alignment, suggesting a closer relationship with China, the nation situated to its north. The popular social media platform, operated by the Chinese company ByteDance, had previously been prohibited due to its alleged failure to control what the former government described as hate speech that disrupted “social harmony.”

At the time of the ban, Nepali officials stated that their actions were a last resort after TikTok did not adequately address concerns regarding disturbing content on its platform. The decision to reinstate TikTok under Oli’s administration signals his perspective that, amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions between China and India, Nepal may benefit more from aligning itself with China, particularly as India too has imposed a ban on the app since 2020 amidst their historically strained relations.

Prithvi Subba Gurung, a spokesperson for the Nepali government, announced that TikTok would now be required to adhere to specific guidelines. These include:

• Designating a local point of contact within Nepal.
• Utilizing the platform to promote Nepali tourism.
• Supporting initiatives for digital safety, literacy, and education.
• Taking measures to curb hate speech and harmful content.

On Thursday morning, the Chinese ambassador to Nepal, Chen Song, celebrated the news on the social media platform X, stating, “Today is a good day.” This message was interpreted by many in Nepal as a sign that negotiations to reinstate TikTok had successfully concluded.

K.P. Sharma Oli, who is 73 years old and leads Nepal’s largest communist party, has returned to power for the fourth time, having assumed leadership of a new ruling coalition in July. His predecessor, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, was perceived as more easily swayed by Indian influence, often altering coalition partnerships for personal gain.

Oli’s political history reveals his opposition to India’s dominance in Nepal. During his first term as prime minister in 2015, he vocally resisted a severe economic blockade imposed by India over certain constitutional provisions in Nepal. Furthermore, during his subsequent term after the 2017 elections, he revised Nepal’s political map, a decision that further strained relations with India.

In addition to the decision regarding TikTok, Nepal and China also reached agreements to enhance several development projects aimed at strengthening their bilateral ties. This includes a commitment to complete the upgrade of a critical highway in Kathmandu, which is part of China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative. This development reflects the growing collaboration between Nepal and its northern neighbor.

Anupreeta Das contributed to this report.